D5330 CALIFORNIA Visited D9400

DISTRICT 5330 ROTARY FRIENDSHIP EXCHANGE - NOVEMBER 2016

California (CA) is 10 hours behind the center of South Africa. - click here for more information and real times

INBOUND DIRECTOR, District 9400: Arina Janse van Rensburg

Every Californian team member – if possible - to bring at least 6 banners

PRETORIA | Champion: Amanda van Biljon     
Assisted by: Peter Oudhof (Waterkloof) and Sonia Reeder (Waterkloof)                   

In 1855, Pretoria was founded by Marthinus Pretorius, a Voortrekker leader. His intention was to name it after his father, Andries, who was instrumental in the Voortrekker victory over the Zulus in the monumental Battle of Blood River.

It took some time to settle on a name for the new town though, options like “Pretoriusdorp”, “Pretorium”, “Pretoriusstad” and “Pretoria-Philadelphia” were all considered, but Marthinus finally settled on Pretoria.

Today the area has been renamed the City of Tshwane, but the CBD still keeps the name of Pretoria. Pretoria continues as the administrative capital of South Africa.

Monday 7th

• 07:00 Guests start to arrive at OR Tambo International Airport, JHB, SA  Hosts and RFE committee members will meet up and assist our guests on arrival. Transportation to host homes to freshen up. 

• 10:30 Team meet up at Union Buildings for Walking tour of grounds in front of Union Buildings and a photo op with Madiba (Nelson Mandela); Followed by a tour of Church Square and the Pretoria CBD

D5330. Rotarians Scott, Jack, Sandy, Derek and Greg In Pretoria at the Nelson Mandela statue.

• 13:00 Lunch at Blue Crane Restaurant / Austin Roberts bird sanctuary.

WELCOME Lunch at Blue Crane Restaurant / Austin Roberts bird sanctuary 

• 15:00  Return to hosts - Free with hosts - so the team can have a relaxing evening 

Tuesday 8th 

• 09:45 Hosts will provide breakfast and drop guests off at Anneke’s
• 10:00 Depart for Hartebeespoort Dam
• 10:40 Visit to Chameleon Village and an opportunity to buy African hand crafted products and finest curios 

• 12:00 Visit Harties Cable way and enjoy a light lunch

20161108 Amanda and Sandy at the Harties Cable Way

• 15:00 - 18:00 Sunset cruise on the Hartebeespoort Dam - Transvaal Yacht Club – Hosts Bert and Doulien Knopjes

20161108 Hartbeespoort Yacht Club (North West Province)

• 18:15 Return to Pretoria and hosts

Wednesday 9th 

• 09:30 Hosts will provide breakfast and drop guests off at Anneke’s
• 10:00 Walking tour of Freedom Park

A Walking Tour at Freedom Park

• 13:30 Light lunch at Anneke's
• 14:30 Back at hosts. Free time. 
• 17:30 Rotary Club of Waterkloof project – Lego Robotics presented by PP Tony Roberts
• 18:30 for 19:00 Rotary Club of Waterkloof meeting and dinner – team presentation / club talk (formal presentation -projector, laptop and screen available) Dress code – Casual   

A Message From The Rotary Club of Waterkloof

Thursday 10th 

• 09:15 Hosts will provide breakfast and drop guests off at Anneke’s

Last day in Pretoria. While our guests enjoyed a Champagne Breakfast with host Anneke, Sandy slipped away with host Carol to spot the Rhinos at Rietvlei Nature Reserve.

• 09:30 Depart for Ermelo                                  Travel time from Pretoria to Ermelo: 2h30m

ERMELO | Champion: Joe Smit                                        

In the 1860's the community was so close knit that the reverend Frans Lion Cachet held regular services on different farms.  In 1872 a new Dutch Reformed congregation was founded and in 1880 a town was proclaimed on the farm Nooitgedacht that was bought from P.J. Fourie in 1871.  The reverend named the town after Ermelo in the Netherlands where he turned to Christianity.  The town was managed by the church until the Transvaal government took over in 1895.  The British nearly destroyed the entire town in 1901 during the Anglo-Boer War.  In 1903 Ermelo was rebuilt.

• 12:00 Arrive in Ermelo. Meet home hosts at Ermelo Inn, Kerk Street

• Settle in at home hosts

• Visit Chrissiesmeer for a Gin tasting (see below)

Friday 11th

• 14h00 Depart from Swemb in Barberton High School bus. 70km trip
• 15h30 Arrive at Information museum in De Villiers Street (opposite Cockney Liz.)
• 15.30 Meet hosts from Greenstone Park, proceed to Greenstone Park, supper with hosts.

Guests will be accommodated as follow:

Sandy Smith by Mark and Karien Coomer

Greg Pettis and Scott Mason by Sakkie and Yvonne Dednam

Jack Winsten and Derek Moore by Johan and Michelle Strydom

BARBERTON | Champion: Roland Jones                             

Barberton has its origin in the 1880s gold rush in the region. The mountains around Barberton are amongst the oldest in the world, dating back 3.5 billion years, and these mountains include some of the oldest exposed rocks on the planet. These volcanic rocks, which scientists call the Barberton Greenstone Belt, have given direct evidence of the conditions of life on the surface of the very early earth.

Saturday 12th                                                                               

• Breakfast with hosts
• 09h00 Meet Chris Rippon and Ben Theron at Greenstone gate for Geotrail outing by vehicle.
• 12h30 Anns to organize lunch at Makhonjwa View, 30 Kms along trail.
• 13h00 Drive to Sheba Gold mine museum and Brays Quarry.
• 16h00 hosts to meet guests at Greenstone Gate.
• Freshen up.
• 18h30 Meet and greet Barberton Rotary Club members at Barberton High School Restaurant and exchange banners, after supper.

Sunday 13th                                                                                   

• Breakfast with hosts
• 07h00 Meet Amanda van Biljon for at Greenstone gate for transport to Malelane gate and rest of trip.

Depart Barberton for Klasserie Bush Camp - http://klaseriedrift.co.za/angelas-camp/ | Champion: Amanda van Biljon

• 07:00 Depart - Malelane Gate Kruger National Park
• 08:00 Arrival - Malelane Gate Kruger National Park. Start of 4 hour safari in the park
• 12:00 Exit Kruger National Park at Numbi Gate
• 12:30 Lunch in Hazyview
• 14:00 Depart for Hoedspruit Bush Pub and Inn
• 16:00 Arrival at Hoedspruit Bush Pub and Inn. Meet up with Klaserie Ranger 

INTERMITTENT MOBILE AND/OR INTERNET SERVICE HEREAFTER. PLEASE INFORM FAMILIES AND FRIENDS ACCORDINGLY

• 16:15 Depart for Angela’s Camp. We will be entering the reserve with plenty of game viewing opportunities until we arrive at the camp site. 
• 17:15 Arrival at campsite 
• 19:00 Dinner will be served

Monday & Tuesday, 14th & 15th

• 05:00 Morning Game Drive 
• 08:30 Breakfast 
• 09:30 Free morning to read, swim, relax
• 13:00 Light lunch (snacks)
• 14:00 Free afternoon to read, swim, relax
• 16:00 Afternoon Game Drive 
• 19:00 Dinner will be served

Wednesday 16th

• 05:00 Morning Game Drive 
• 08:00 Breakfast 
• 10:00 Depart 
• 13:30 Lunch at Alzu Middelburg 

MOBILE AND/OR INTERNET SERVICE AVAILABLE FOR REMAINDER OF THE TOUR

• 14:30 Depart 
• 17:00 Estimated Arrival at Kyalami Country Club

KYALAMI | Champion: Nicole Ritchie                                      

• Dinner at Kyalami home hosts (dress casual)

Thursday 17th

Visit Soweto, and walk in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela and Desmund Tutu (Tour Co-Ordinator: Johan Snyman, with Rotarians from local clubs joining)

• 08:30 – 09:15 Collect guests at Kyalami Country Club
• 09:30 – 11:00 Apartheid Museum, Northern Park Way and Gold Reef Rd, JHB
• 11:00 – 12:30 Vilakazi Street Mandela House
• 12:30 – 14:00 Hector Peterson Museum
• 14:00 – 15:30 Local Tavern
• Drop off time at Kyalami Country Club to be confirmed 
• Attend Kyalami Club Meeting, at the Kyalami Country Club. Dress casual. Banner exchange.

                        

Rotary Club of Kyalami - Banner Exchange

                                                                      

Friday 18th visit Lion Park - Meeting Point at Kyalami Country Club.

• Dinner at Sandton Square

Saturday 19th       

• Breakfast at the Vulture Restaurant, Skeerpoort (North West Province). Dress casual, take sunscreen and hats. Bring banners to exchange with the Rotary Club of Brits Hartbeespoort (hosts of the venue). 

Depart from O R Tambo International Airport 

                    Departure times vary between 19h50 and 21h50, with one exception, i.e. departure at 09h10